DHAKA, June 16, 2023 (BSS) - Dhaka University former Vice-Chancellor Professor AAMS Arefin Siddique today said the name of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib will come back again and again with Rabindra-Nazrul birth anniversary.

"On the day, Bangabandhu was sworn in as Prime Minister in 1972, when journalists asked him for his reaction, he simply recited a line from Rabindranath's poem. He did not make any further speech that day," he said.

Prof Arefin was addressing a discussion and cultural programme organized by cultural centre Geetanjali Lalitkala Academy on the occasion of the 162nd birth anniversary of the Biswakabi Rabindranath Tagore and the 124th birth anniversary of the national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam at Small & Cottage Industries Training Institute at Uttara Sector-6 in the capital.

He said at the beginning of the Republic, Bangabandhu recited Rabindranath's poem as a message to the countrymen.

Prof Arefin, also chairman of the board of directors of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), said Bangabandhu returned to the independent country in 1972 and brought poet Kazi Nazrul Islam back from Kolkata and recognized him as the national poet and accepted his poem 'Chal Chal Chal' as the 'Rono Sangeet'.

That year he celebrated poet Nazrul's birthday in a befitting manner, he mentioned.

"Even today we are celebrating the birth anniversaries of Rabindranath and Nazrul. With Rabindra-Nazrul birth anniversary, the name of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib will come back again and again," said Prof Arefin, also adviser of Geetanjali Lalitkala Academy.

He said Tagore’s song ‘Amar Sonar Bangla’, which was made national anthem of Bangladesh, inspired the freedom fighters during the country’s Liberation War.

On the day, when Bangabandhu placed six-point demand in the national conference of Awami League, 'Amar Sonar Bangla, Ami Tomai Bhalobashi' was also played, he said.

“In his different speeches, Bangabandhu often inspired us by quoting poems and songs of Rabindranath and Nazrul. So, there was a lot of influence of Rabindranath and Nazrul in Bangalee’s struggle for independence and in the life of Bangabandhu,” he said.

Cultural personality Ataur Rahman spoke on the occasion as the special guest while Geetanjali Lalitkala Academy founding president and cultural personality Mahbub Amin Mithu delivered welcome address.

Geetanjali Lalitkala Academy artistes performed songs, dances and music and recited poems in the cultural event.

 Noted writers, poets, artists, writers and other distinguished personalities were present on the occasion.